For the past three years, the French Open has been criticized for not scheduling a women’s singles match as the night match at Roland Garros.

That is about to change as the tournament announced on Sunday that it will put the Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka match on its Monday night docket.

Sabalenka vs. Osaka just got more visibility, if that’s possible, and tennis fans think it means two things.

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Sabalenka will thrive under the lights

WTA World No. 1 Sabalenka loves playing under the lights and was one of the last to do so at Roland Garros a few years ago. She defeated Osaka in two 2026 meetings (Indian Wells and Madrid) was the heavy favorite in this match before it became a night match.

She feeds off the crowd in electric night settings, most notably at the US Open.

It is an unpredictable French Open, but this is welcome news for Sabalenka and her team.

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Osaka will use fashion to alleviate the pressure

Naomi Osaka has been subtly changing her fashionable looks for each entrance at Roland Garros.

Her fashion statements have garnered a lot of attention and admirers, including Sabalenka.

What will she wear to capture the moment against the current World No. 1? She said her kits are planned over a year in advance so it will not be drastic, but fans are anxious to see the next iteration of the current golden kit.

It may be a way to redirect the nerves that Osaka will likely have about the match now shifted to the night session.

Watch the Aryna Sabalenka vs. Naomi Osaka match on TNT Sports on Monday, June 1 at 2:15 PM EDT.

Coco Gauff will not defend her 2025 French Open women’s singles title.

In a challenging third round match against Austrian Anastasia Potapova, Gauff had her chances to lock up the win in straight sets.

However, Potapova hung in, sometimes looking winded and tired. The result was a comeback win for Potapova, enabling her to equal her career best finish of 2024, into the fourth round. Potapova was spotted icing her wrist after the win which is a concerning development as she is slated to play Anna Kalinskaya on Monday.

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Gauff’s serve held up

Gauff served pretty well and prior to the last game of the match, only committing one double fault.

In the final game, she had another double fault which came at the worst possible time.

Gauff has looked in form on the clay evidenced by her Italian Open final finish a couple weeks ago.

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American women are falling

It was a tough day for the American women with Amanda Anisimova losing to Diane Parry earlier in the day.

Madison Keys is the only one left, looking very good, up a set and a break at press time over Victoria Mboko. (6-3, 2-0)

Though an upset, Anisimova’s loss was not as surprising as she dealt with a wrist injury and did not play on the clay this spring.

Who wins the French Open

It feels wide open, and anyone can win it.

Iga Swiatek is the only person in the women’s singles draw who won Roland Garros before.

Aryna Sabalenka has played well and is the still the odds-on favorite.

Two tennis moms, Belinda Bencic and Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina, considered to be among the best players not to win a Grand Slam are still alive. They play each other in the fourth round.

Naomi Osaka has looked great on her less favorite surface.

Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk, Romanian Sorana Cirstea, who may want to reconsider her end of season retirement, and Mirra Andreeva are also in the mix.